United States v. Rodela-Castillo

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT October 16, 2017
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Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v. No. 17-2108
(D.C. No. 2:16-CR-02181-KG-4)
JESUS MANUEL RODELA-CASTILLO, (D. N.M.)
Defendant - Appellant.
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ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
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Before TYMKOVICH, Chief Judge, EBEL and BACHARACH, Circuit Judges.
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Jesus Manuel Rodela-Castillo pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to
distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine
in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). His plea agreement
included a broad waiver of his appellate rights, including the right to appeal his
sentence if it was at or under the maximum statutory penalty authorized by law (i.e.,
life imprisonment). The court sentenced him to 46 months in prison. Nevertheless,
he now seeks to challenge his sentence through this appeal.
*
This panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not
materially assist in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2);
10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law
of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its
persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
The government has moved to enforce the appeal waiver under United States
v. Hahn, 359 F.3d 1315 (10th Cir. 2004) (en banc) (per curiam). In evaluating a
motion to enforce a waiver under Hahn, we consider: “(1) whether the disputed
appeal falls within the scope of the waiver of appellate rights; (2) whether the
defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his appellate rights; and (3) whether
enforcing the waiver would result in a miscarriage of justice.” Id. at 1325.
In response to the government’s motion, Mr. Rodela-Castillo, through counsel,
“agrees that his appeal waiver is enforceable under the standard articulated in
[Hahn]” and states that he “does not oppose the dismissal of this appeal.” Resp. to
Mot. to Enforce Appellate Waiver at 1 (Sept. 14, 2017). Based on this concession
and our independent review of the record, we grant the government’s motion and
dismiss the appeal. We do so, however, without prejudice to Mr. Rodela-Castillo’s
right to file a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
Entered for the Court
Per Curiam
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